Lock for starting and ignition systems of motor vehicles



Sept. 7, 1926. T A 1,599,097

' w. METZROTH LOOK FOR STARTING AND IGNITION SYSTEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 13 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 7 ,1926.

. 1,599,097 w. METZROTH' LOCK 'Fon 'STAR'I'] 'NG AND IGNITION SYSTEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 13, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

WILLIAM METZROTI-I, or'synacnss, 1\TEW.YOB.K.

Locx rons'ranrmc AND IGNITION svsrmvrs or Moron VEHICLES.

Application filed June 13, 1922. Serial No. 587,939.

This invention has for its object a. particularly simple and'etficientlock for electric clrcuits as the starting and ignition clrcuits of automobiles, which look is particularlyv simple and economical in construction, and highly efiicient and durable in use. j i

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed;

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. v s Figs. 1-and2 are respectively frontand rear elevations of this electric circuit lock.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the base.

Figure et'is a rear elevation of the face plate. I 7 V Figure 5 is aside elevation of this lock, the contiguous part of-an instrument board or other mounting being shown in section.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the plane of line 6'6, Fig. 1, the instrument board being shown in section.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the plane it of line 7-7, Fig. 6. v

This lock for electric circuits comprises generally a body, pairs of terminals carried by the body, lock mechanism carried by the body, and means operated by the lock mechanism for controlling tlieclosing of the circuit across each pair of terminals. The body comprises a baseand a cover plate. I

The lock mechanism carried by the cover plate and the means for controlling the opening and closing of the current between the pairs of terminals is carried between the base and the cover plate. I v

1 designates the base which is usually cylindrical in form and composed of any suitable insulating material as bakelite.

2 and 3 are the separate terminals of an electric circuit as the. starting circuit of a motor vehicle, the pair of terminals being here shown as U- haped ingeneral form, the intermediate part of the U being divided forming the separated terminals 2, 3 which are embedded in the base 1.

The passage of the current between the terminals 2, 3 is preferably controlled by a plug 1, and the base is formed with a passage 5 alined with the space between the terminals 2, 3. The ends of the terminals project beyond the rear face of the base and are provided with suitable binding devices for connecting the electric cables.

concealed or made inaccessible after 6 and 7 are the terminals of the ignition circuit, these being nnbedded' in the base and projecting into a recess 8 on the front side of the base, one of these terminals havmg a spring contact 9 fixed thereto, the free .L v .H. r end of [1118 contact being arranged to engage the other terminal 7. and the spring being tensroned to normally tend to separate the contact- 9 from the terminal .7 and hence break the circuit between the terminals 6, 7.

These terminals 6, 7 here shown as blocks imbedded in the base 1 and having reduced I threaded shanks projecting from the rear side of the base to which shank the wires of the lgnition system may be attached in any suitable manner as by nuts 11, threading on the threadec shanks of theterminals 6, 7.

' 12 is the cover plate which is attached to the base 1 in any suitable manner as by screws 13 extending through the base from therear side thereof andthreading into the coverplate, the heads of the screws being parts are assembled in any suitable manner as by sealing them with wax. V 1a designates the casing of the lock mechanism which casing is carried in the cover plate in any suitable manner. 15 is the key of the lock mechanism. The lock nieclr anism includes movable member as theretat-abledisk 16 at the rear end of the casing 1 1.

The cover plate is also formed with a plug passage 17 alined with the passage 5 of the base.

The means for controlling the closing of the circuit between theterminals 2, 3 and 5, 7 is operated l) 1 the movable member or disk 16.01 the lock mechanism, and as h re shown, includes means for opening and closing the passage 5, and for og'ierating the switch contact 9.

. The means for opening and closing the passage 5 comprising a part movable crosswise of the passage 5 to open and close it. this part being in the form of a link 18 mounted on an eccentric pin 19 on the disk 16 of the lock mechanism, and movable across the front end of the passage 5, this look being located between the cover plate and the base and as here shown in the recess in the front face ofthe cover plate. The

means for operating the contact 9 com-' prises a member 20 similar to the part 18 and connected to an eccentric pin 21 on the disk 16 diametrically opposite the pin 19,

the

this part 20 coacting with the contact 9 and as here shown having a cam or shoulder wiping on a curved or cam shaped portion 23 on the contact 9 during the reciprocations of the part 20 by the member or die 16. This part 20 is also located in the recess 8 in the front side of the base and the portion of the recess 8 in which the ignition terminals are exposed is covered by a plate 2 of insulation lying between the cover plate and the base.

The projecting portion of one of the starting circuit terminals as the terminal 2 is enclosed by a suitable housing 25 secured to the base 1 in order that such terminals cannot be short circuited.

The parts or links 18, 20 especially the part 20 is preferably of insulation.

In use. the cover plate with the base assembled therewith is attached to the instrument board or other support in any suitable manner as by screws 2', and in operation, assuming that the device is looked, that is, that the member 18 is closing the passage 5 and the member Q0 is in its position assumed when the contact 9 is separated from the terminal 7, the operator places his key in the lock mechanism and turns the key. The turning of the key oscillates the disk 16 causing the member or link 18 to be retracted to uncover the passage 5 and causes the member 20 to move downwardly, Fig. 3, so that its point or cam 22 presses the contact 9 against the terminal 7. The starting plug 4 can then be inserted so that the starting circuit is closed. when it is desired to lock up these circuits so that the engine cannot be started, the plug 5 is withdrawn and the key turned to cause the part 8 to obstruct the passage 4 to the entrance of a plug or any other tool and also to cause the link or part 20 to be withdrawn so that the contact 9 separates the terminal 7 and hence opens the ignition circuit.

What I claim is:

1. A lock for electric starting and ignition systems comprising a body, a pair of separated starting circuit terminals carried by the body, the body being formed with plug passage alined with the space between said terminals, a pair of ignition terminals carried by the body, and means for opening and closing the circuit across said terminals, look mechanism carried by the body including a member movable about an axis, parts connected eccentrically to said member, one of said parts being movable transversely of said passage to open and close the same and the other forming part of said means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A lock for electric starting ignition systems comprising a body, apair of separated terminals U-shaped in general form, the intermediate part of the i. being imbed ded in the body and being divided fori'ning the separated terminals of the pair, the body being formed with a plug passage alined with the space between the terminals, lock mechanism carried by the body, and means perated by the lock mechanism for opening and closing the passage, substantiall as and for the purpose described.

A lock for electric starting ignition systems comprising a body, a pair 01" sepa rated terminals U-shaped in general form, the intermediate part of the b being inrbedded in the body and being divided forming the separated terminals or" the pair, the bony being formed with a plug passage alined with the space betweenthe terminals, lock mechanism carried by the body, and means operated by the lock mechanism for opening and closing the passage, a portion of one of the terminals projecting outside of the body, and a housing enclosing the projecting portion of the terminal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A look for electric'starting and ignition systems comprising a body, a pair of separated terminals carried by the body for connection in the starting circuit, a second pair of terminals carried by the body for connection in the ignition circuit, the body being formed with a plug passage alined with the space between the first pair of terminals, lock mechanism carried by the body, and means operated by the lock mechanism for simultaneously closing the plug passage and opening the circuit between the second pair of terminals, and vice versa, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse. in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 9th day of June, 1922.

XVILLIAM METZROTH. 

